Failed Med/Surg by 3/10 point

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2011

When I went to nursing school, you had to have an 84 on everything to pass. An 83 was an "F," period. 66 of us started, only 22 of us graduated. Only you can decide if this is "for you" or not. Nursing school is a full-time commitment, and it can be hard if you have to work and don't have time to study. If you choose to not continue, there are many other things in the medical field you can do. Good luck and God Bless you.

texasfnp · Dec 13, 2011

Well, I would recommend that if you scored below an 80 overall, it would be wise to repeat the course. A solid Med-Surg foundation is critical when it comes to passing the NCLEX.

As I recall, Med-Surg was the most demanding of all of my clinical courses. If there is one to fail, that would be the course. I also recall a couple of my classmates retaking it, and they went on to graduate.

Before you register for it again, try and sit down and make a list of what you think went wrong, and how you can address them. If it looks doable, then go ahead and register for it again. If not, then you would need to re-evaluate your long-term plans. You may also want to sit down with a faculty member in the nursing department and discuss the situation and see if he/she has any recommendations.

Best of luck!

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Dec 13, 2011

It's not the school's problem that you missed the question. It stinks- but you're fortunate to have a low passing "target"....I guess.

I had the same set up as applewhitern.... and we had %100 pass on boards.

Repeat- remember- pass the next time :) :up:

Tankweti · Dec 13, 2011

This situation has never happened to me but I know people that it has happened to; some of them dropped out of nursing school and others retook the course, finished the rest of their coursework, went on to graduate and passed NCLEX. I used to be (and still am) a professional nursing tutor. What I consistently hear from my students is that they do all the reading, get into the exam and cannot remember what they read, which breeds anxiety and anxiety breeds hasty and often incorrect answers. This is the advice I always give my students:

1. Make notes on 3 x 5 index cards as you do your reading. Even if you can buy them, don't. Make them yourself as the info will stick better if you handwrite them. The reason I stress 3 x 5 index cards is that their size will limit the amount you can copy. This will force you to look for only the most important points. You can write on back and front of the cards but I would say use no more than 3 for any particular topic.

2. Using 3 x 5 cards provides a small field which your brain can easily recall on a test. These cards have defined borders which will help your brain to frame them like a picture and remember. It is no wonder that students cannot remember 190 pages of text in a faceless book without landmarks suitable for the brain to latch onto.

3. Once made, take these cards with you everywhere you go in your pocket. Whenever you have a few moments, take them out and review. Your brain will more easily be able to summon up their contents the more you look at them. So, when the exam comes and the topic is cardio meds, your brain will mentally pop up those little index cards and you will have the info you need. This method of carrying the cards with you is called "capturing moments of time" and is a time management technique. For example, if you are in the laundromat waiting for the laundry to get done, take that time to review your cards and not an old People Magazine.

4. Test Taking Anxiety: When you get your test paper with the questions, turn it over and IMMEDIATELY COVER THE ANSWER WITH YOUR ANSWER SHEET SO THAT ALL YOU CAN SEE IS THE QUESTION. This is vital! Many people scan the answers quickly, see something that they think they recall from the reading and pick that answer. However, it may not even be what the question is asking, such as "the nurse should avoid..." Always be sure you know what the question is asking and do not ever leap at an answer just because it looks familiar. I tell my students to look for keywords or key phrases and underline them in pencil on your question paper. Once you have done that, what the question is asking should pop right out at you.

5. Most nursing schools recommend a book for students to use to help them develop test taking skills, but I have yet to see any of them actually buy it and use it. It will help you learn the different types of questions you will see on exams and how to go about answering them. This book is worth its weight in gold. I used it when I was in nursing school and have used it with my students. The name of the book is, Test for Success: Test Taking Techniques for Beginning Nursing Students by Patricia Nugent and Barbara Vitale.

Hope the above helps.

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 13, 2011

I just can't believe that they are going to fail me for missing the mark by one question.

Unfortunately they have to draw the line somewhere. If they move it back that 3/10 a point for you, then they'd have to move it back for someone else who'll point to you and say, "but you did it for her!" And they'll keep doing it so on and so on until there's no more line. Then when they try to reestablish that line, no one will take that line--and their performance--serioulsy.

It sucks, I know. But at the same time, the school told you what you needed to get to pass--getting that score was entirely up to you.

I'm just freaking out that maybe this isn't for me. I really thought it was but maybe I just can't hack it. I dunno...what if I fail 3rd?!?! or 4th?!!? I can't go through this again. It hurts way to much. Has anyone out there failed a semester of school before and still made it to RN?

Only you can decide if nursing is still for you after this. I know several nurses who failed a class, repeated it, graduated and went on to become fantastic nurses...and a few who decided after the failure that perhaps nursing wasn't what they wanted after all and gave up entirely. So you need to make that choice on your own. Perhaps your failure was the wake-up call you need to decide if nursing was what you really wanted and to take the coursework seriously. I'm not saying you weren't serious before--not at all!--but keep in mind that the courses in nursing school often get harder as the program goes on.

Best of luck.

eagle78 · Dec 13, 2011

Well, all the above input is great. I just wanted to add one little perspective. If you repeat the course you will only strengthen what you learned the first time. You have got to have well over half of the material, think about it, repeating can only reinforce that... :smokin:

I understand how you feel. I am in the same postion, only mines is with my clinical portion. I am not sure if I passed yet as I have not gotten my last evaluation. I know that I have not scored well on the mechanics of my clinical, the only thing that has helped me with my first and second evaluations is my passion for caring for the patients. Sooo, I think I am in a worse postion than you are, most people wiz with the clinical and here I am standing with two left hands... :confused:

Good luck to you in what ever your decision is. Peace...

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Dec 13, 2011

First off, you missed it by more than one question. Just saying.

I failed a class and retook it the next semester. You really need to sit down and look at why you failed. Once you figure that part out, the rest is easy. Not enough studying, study better/longer. Motivation an issue, figure out what you have to look forward to. I knew that if I didnt make it through and took it seriously, I would never get out of school and I was tired of not starting my career. Be honest with yourself and look to see what you did wrong.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Dec 13, 2011

They have to set the bar somewhere. You scored below that point. So you failed. Now what?

Only you can answer the question of whether nursing is for you. If you think it IS for you, re-take the class and get a better grade the next time. Med-Surg is the foundation on which you build your career.

darkbeauty · Dec 13, 2011

I had to repeat Paeds and Maternity because I failed by 2%, got a 73 instead of 75. Heartbroken is an understatement. Unfortunately for our class, we went straight from Nursing Fundementals (Nurs 101) to a specialty (Paeds and Maternity) and I think it would have done us great service to do MedSurg 1 first. O' well, out of 30 students, 15 flunked and I was one of them. We had 6 tests throughout that semester, by the 5th test I could see I needed a 100% to reach the minimum passing grade. I knew that was impossible to ask from a discouraged, exhausted, stressed and low-self esteemed ME. So I headed straight to the office and had a tearful chat with our DON/Administrator. After coming out of her office and exploring other options, it was best I not take the 6th test & fail the course inorder to give it another shot the second time around, and had to wait 6months.

My advice to you is: there are many students who struggle in nursing school, some to a point of failing and having to repeat a course. How excellent or how poor you may perform in nursing school is NOT an indicator of the nurse you will turn out to be as a professional. Nursing as a career is physically, emotionally, academically, psychologically demanding, and only the best 'intended' characters succeeed. Unfortunately while training to become a nurse, only the academic performance is taken into consideration. So get right back on the horse that kicked you. The fact that you care so much means you want this. Go ahead and repeat the course. This time you'll be much familiar with the material. It will all be worth it at the end. And remember, when your badge reads RN, it won't add 'medsurg done twice.' You'll be a nurse like any other RN out there, perhaps a strong & understanding one. Goodluck!

PS And don't forget to tell us how it all went!

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Dec 13, 2011

So I failed 2nd semester by a fraction of a point. Needed a 76.5 to pass. I didn't post this on the student boards because I was hoping to get some feedback from RN's who have failed before.
I got c's on 4 tests and two low b's, then bombed the final because of anxiety/ran outta time...etc. I just can't believe that they are going to fail me for missing the mark by one question. I will lose my tuition reimbursment through work, my scholarships, wedding is going to be post-poned four more months.
I'm just freaking out that maybe this isn't for me. I really thought it was but maybe I just can't hack it. I dunno...what if I fail 3rd?!?! or 4th?!!? I can't go through this again. It hurts way to much. Has anyone out there failed a semester of school before and still made it to RN?

My school required 80% to pass any class, a 79.9 is a fail, no questions asked. Sometimes it takes a failed class to really light the fire under a nursing student, they hit it hard and really nail the remainder of the program. Others take it "as a sign" and never go back. Only YOU know which one you are. Good luck whichever way you go!!

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2011

Yes I failed a subject and couldn't go on to the next semester.

It is very disappointing I know, but I decided the past was the past & to revise my study. I got a plan of action together, studied everything inside out till I knew it off by heart & passed the next time.

You have to really put a lot of time into study. I don't know how some people go out & party and only study a little on week nights - that didn't work for me.

You say you're getting married. May I suggest, if possible, you postpone that till you get this next semester out the way or next year out the way, or fin the whole course first? I myself found relationships and dealing with men too much of a distraction. You need to really commit 100% to nursing & study.

I know it's horrid failing by one or a few points. I know a guy who failed by ONE POINT in 2nd year and he raved on and on about it. But the thing is he kept making excuses re study and re his commitments to nursing; he couldn't do this or that cos of his little girl (she wasn't sick or anything), work was too much, whatever. I said to him if you don't commit properly and continue making excuses, you will never get thru study. I don't know if he made it or not, but I doubt it.

No one will care if u fail, just go back, revise what u did wrong and pass next time.